Air Pressure Breaks a Ruler

another demonstration video with short explanation

https://youtu.be/UvMmfacVA24?feature=shared

Is it simple to explain simple experiments? The 'heavy newspaper' stick break

In this paper they consider the well-known experiment with the 'heavy' newspaper that breaks a stick that it is laid on. Using several appropriate control experiments they show that the currently invoked explanation using atmospheric pressure cannot be correct. They perform a theoretical analysis and propose a new explanation based on the rotational motion of the stick.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-6552/ab533d/meta

Paper proves to be stronger than wood

Some new points about the phenomenon.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0031-9120/40/4/F09

Backyard chemistry: the power of atmospheric pressure

short description and explanation of phenomenon

https://www.rsc.org/images/IC0511-atmospheric-pressure_tcm18-233508.pdf

Heavy paper

Video, step-by-step instruction and explanation of the phenomenom.

https://www.experimentarchive.com/experiments/heavy-paper/

Suction Science: How to Break a Ruler Using Air Pressure

procedure and explanation for reproducing the phenomenom

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bring-science-home-air-pressure-ruler/